WDW bus employment

[ALLTIGGEREDOUT]

Are the bus drivers employed by Disney,or a seperate company?How would you get information about training and becoming a WDW bus driver?:drive2:

[uscwest]

The Disney Bus Drivers are employeed by Disney. I believe the Cruise Line drivers are employed by Mears, but I'm not sure and I'm also not sure about DME.

[JuniorMickey]

DME and the Cruiseline buses are Mears but the Disney buses are Disney employees

[GrammiePo]

looking for a different job, Tigger?

[OKWTink]

You need to have a special class license, which you obtain by passing a drivers test. Then you have Disney training (for the routes and policies).

How do you get to do it? I'd check at Casting and see. Bus Drivers get paid a bit more than the regular hourly workers, but that's about all I know about their position.

[ALLTIGGEREDOUT]

Thanks for that.I've always wanted to be a WDW bus driver,ever since our first visit.I'm a driver by trade and love meeting and helping people.This year i've decided to try and do something about it.I don't mind funding the license myself,and even going to the US to do the training and take the test.I just need to know if it would be possible,and if there would be the possibility of a job at the end of it.
One of our drivers last month was English,so if he can do it,i'd like to find out if i could as well.

[uscwest]

My brother, when he can work, is a school bus driver here in the US. I think he said that he had to obatin a CDL (Commercial Driver's License). I'll have to ask him or Christa (one of the ladies who bowls with us) and is also a school bus driver. That license, plus the obligatory Disney training, was all he needed if he were to go to work with Disney he said. He seemed to think that Disney was always looking for bus drivers.

[JuniorMickey]

but you have to be a Florida resident to get a Florida's driver license

[JAZMINE]

My Dh was asking about this a few years ago as he was a coach driver for a lot of years its very difficult to get a job in the US but if you get any more info please let me know thanks
Jacqui :) xx

[OKWTink]

But if you had the training to drive a bus anywhere, perhaps when you came to Florida for the CDL test you would be ok with passing it? :unsure:

I mean, you have any number of drivers here who learned to drive in other states or countries. :yes:

[ALLTIGGEREDOUT]

I was wondering if you could come over with a UK drivers license and train/pass the cdl test in the US,or whether you have to be a US resident to get your driving license then train for your cdl.If other people from different countries can drive for Disney,they must of done it some how.:shrug: The time it takes or the money don't matter,i just need to know if i can fulfill my dream.

[JuniorMickey]

In order to get a Florida's DL, you'd have to be a Florida Resident. I don't know what Disney's requirements are for what DL you'd have to have

[ALLTIGGEREDOUT]

I went to the Casting Center by Downtown last week to get some details,but they were very busy.Is there an email address?

[JAZMINE]

Its like JM says you have to be a Florida resident to obtain a licence, we have wanted to move to the Florida are for some years and have looked into it but its extremely difficult, you have to get a working visa which is really hard there are several different categories for a visa and we didnt fit any of them, there is a green card lottery where people from different countries can apply to US embassy but unfortunately UK is not included ,sorry i know thats not what you want to hear we were the same but we havent given up, if you find a way please let me know
Jacqui :) xx

[ALLTIGGEREDOUT]

Difficult isnt the word.We weren't in any visa category either.But i've seen a couple of UK bus drivers and boat drivers(MGM-Epcot)so i've got to exhaust all avenues until i finally make it,or i'm told its impossible.

[JAZMINE]

I know how you feel Kevin as i said its been our dream for many years, a friend of mine met and married a guy a few years ago from Florida and now she is in business with her DH and has a wonderful life, (she sold double glazing when she lived here ) i dont think us 2 are in the position to get married to a Florida resident :rotfl: Keep Dreaming you just never know :thumbs:
Jacqui :) xx

[BevW]

I normally go to the Disney website and look under careers. They have all sorts of jobs posted there.

[SorcererMickey]

Yes, threre are many people from many different countries working for WDW, and their specific situations are varied.

You have the young people that work at Epcot's World Showcase, Resort Guest Services, Animal Kingdom, etc., who come to work as "International Representatives". They have a Q-1 visa which Disney, through special arrangements, get a limited amount of every year from the State Department. Their programs last 1 year, after that, Disney takes away their visa to give to other young people.

A Q-1 visa as defined by the Immigration Department:

Q-1 Visas are issued for international cultural exchange visitors. It is issued to the foreign nationals who are coming to the US to participate in an international cultural exchange program. Under the Q-1 visa, the foreign national can engage in practical training and employment so long as they are also sharing the history, culture and traditions of their home country.


You also have people who own a house, apartment or condo in Florida but are not legal residents of the US. These people can have a Florida Driver's License but cannot work if they don't have work permit.

If you maintain a resident for a specific amount of time, you can also apply for a work permit in the state where your residence is.

Another way to get a work permit is to be sponsored by a company or individual who applies for a work related visa in the basis of skill or knowledge needed to perform a specific job.

The next level is a green card.

After having a work permit or green card, people can then start the process to become an American Citizen.

Or you can become an American Citizen thru marriage :marry:

Bus drivers are not positions that Disney will sponsor a work permit in the basis of special skill, the people you encountered might be in any of the other categories, maybe they have a residence and have obtained a work permit, have a green card or are American Citizens.

If they are young, they might be participating in the WDW International Program which does place people in some transportation jobs, but mainly boat drivers.

[ALLTIGGEREDOUT]

If they are young, they might be participating in the WDW International Program which does place people in some transportation jobs, but mainly boat drivers.

They weren't young thats for sure.I suppose i'll just have to get divorced and find an eligable US woman to become my new wife.:rotfl:

[OKWTink]

:faint:

[ALLTIGGEREDOUT]

Only kidding.:)

[OKWTink]

Oh whew! You had me worried there for a minute! :wink: I thought GrammiePo would have to head for the interior of the North country or something! LOL! :wink: :hehe:

[ALLTIGGEREDOUT]

I just want to work at WDW so much.I love the US,the people,the sport,the way of life,i jsut want to be somewhere that i'll be happy and want to work for the rest of my life.:)

[MystikPiglit]

Well, good luck to you! You sound very determined and I'm sure that will take you a long way. :)

[ALLTIGGEREDOUT]

I am willing to fund my own training,i have no debts,i am willing to work all hours 7 days a week,i am fully prepared to do anything to become a part of the community,but there seems to be a dead end every turn i make.But,i'll keep trying.:)

[OKWTink]

Ach. :hug: Remember, this is not a perfect "land" any more than any where else. :)

There is high crime in many areas of this country, and particularly this state. Health insurance is ridiculous (cost wise) and if you don't have it, you are essentially going to do without basic healthcare. Paying for it privately is prohibitive. You'll need a car (not that you don't need one elsewhere) unless you are living in a major city like NYC or Chicago, DC...

Taxes are pretty high, both income and property (but property is dependent upon where you live, of course).

I'm not insulting this country by any means, just pointing out that there are some not so pleasant aspects of living here too. :hug:

[JuniorMickey]

Since you want to work for Disney, much of what Tink is saying is true. The economy is weak at the moment, gas prices are getting higher and higher, insurance is crazy expensive within the state, one plus is that Florida does not have a state income tax. Car insurance is crazy expensive too

[DisneyMad]

I suppose i'll just have to get divorced and find an eligable US woman to become my new wife.:rotfl:

I love the US,the people,the sport,the way of life,i just want to be somewhere that i'll be happy and want to work for the rest of my life.:)

Dad, is that you?

Just kidding. You do seem determined, and whilst I don't agree with every decision he made, I have to say my old man is extremely happy with the way everything turned out (He lives in Whitehall, PA).

You can apply for a visa. If you have the resources to buy a house, and a job waiting for you when you get there, you migt have more luck than you'd expect with the application.

My advice would be to flat out go for it. If you have a HGV licence etc over here, get a bus one too, and go for it. I'm sure you can find a way. Just start by getting the training and stuff in place, even if it means a cheap one week stay with a cheap flight company and a stay in a holiday inn a few miles away to do the training.

[JAZMINE]

Thats what i was thinking :rotfl:
Jacqui :) xx

[JAZMINE]

Kevin if you find a way please share it my family feel the same way as you ,we love America and Disney and have been trying for years to come up with a way but like you dead ends :shrug: Keep Dreaming x
Jacqui :)

[GrammiePo]

Where there is a will, there is a way. Keep working on it Tigger. How does the wife and daughter feel about this?

[jarretth]

This was always my retirement dream. Get to about 50ish and then retire to Florida and spend the day driving buses around WDW.

[OKWTink]

Ya'll ever been to the OKW resort? That is NOT a place where I'd want to drive a bus! :eek:

[Tinker]

I will retire to Florida one day and I will work for Disney, but reality right now for us is our parents that cared for us . It's a reversed role that we play . :yes: Believe me Tigger, I felt that urge to just want to relocate, even had the house on the markeyt and after I had it off market someone offered us the asking sale price But... and what us friends are saying is the grass is not always greener on the other side . no pun intended You have time to do it as I do and you will :D

[GrammiePo]

Many of the resorts in the area have buses that go to Disney, what about some of them?

[DisneyMad]

Its not quite the same! I would also imagine that getting a job at disney, and the visa's etc associated would be easier than getting a job at say, Mears.

Plus with mears or someone else you're not CONSTANTLY around the magic...

[SorcererMickey]

Actually, I think getting a job at Disney would be more difficult since Disney would not want to jeopardize their status with the State Department and their Q-1 visas for the "International Program". If they somehow lost their Q-1 visas, well, there goes their entire concept for Epcot. I think they would be more watchful about the employment status of their CMs than any other company.

[ALLTIGGEREDOUT]

Where there is a will, there is a way. Keep working on it Tigger. How does the wife and daughter feel about this?

With me in a flash.DD is a drama student at college,and wants to work at WDW when she leaves.If i can't make it,i hope she can.